Where Was Tarzan Filmed?
Johnny Weissmuller filmed Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939) at Silver Springs in Ocala, and Florida's State Archives credit the springs with six Tarzan films in all.
Silver Springs went on to host The Yearling, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Sea Hunt. Today you can see the same waters on a glass-bottom boat tour.
The Tarzan-Silver Springs Connection
In early 1939, MGM filmed part of Tarzan Finds a Son!, originally titled Tarzan in Exile, at Silver Springs in Marion County. According to the State Archives of Florida, Silver Springs performer and promoter Newt Perry helped bring the production there through his friendship with filmmaker Grantland Rice and with Johnny Weissmuller, the Olympic swimmer who played Tarzan.
Silver Springs photographer Bruce Mozert photographed the shoot. Archive photos show Weissmuller with Johnny Sheffield, who played Boy, and with a baby elephant at Ross Allen's Reptile Institute during filming. Co-star Maureen O'Sullivan, the archives note, never came to Florida.
The State Archives credit Silver Springs with six Tarzan films in all, but do not name the others. Perry also helped bring MGM's Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) to Florida, but that film was shot at Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee, not Silver Springs.
Why Silver Springs?
- Crystal-clear water — clear enough for underwater filming and glass-bottom boats
- Jungle-like vegetation — subtropical hammock doubled as African forest
- A local promoter — Newt Perry connected the springs with Weissmuller and filmmakers
- Ross Allen's Reptile Institute — on site at the attraction, where Weissmuller was photographed with an elephant
The Tarzan Movie Filmed at Silver Springs
The State Archives of Florida credit Silver Springs with six Tarzan films but list only one by name. This is the one documented by archive photos:
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Starring: Johnny Weissmuller, Johnny Sheffield
MGM film, originally titled Tarzan in Exile, shot partly at Silver Springs in early 1939. State Archives of Florida photos by Bruce Mozert show Weissmuller, Johnny Sheffield (Boy) and Silver Springs swimmer Newt Perry on location. Maureen O'Sullivan co-starred but, according to the archives, never came to Florida.
Silver Springs Today: A Florida State Park
Silver Springs operated as a private attraction for over a century before becoming a Florida state park in 2013. Today, Silver Springs State Park preserves the same natural beauty that captivated Hollywood filmmakers decades ago.
The waters remain crystal-clear, still producing over 550 million gallons per day from the main spring head. The subtropical hammock forest along the Silver River looks much as it did when Weissmuller swung through the trees — dense, lush, and undeniably jungle-like.
While the commercial attractions, theme park rides, and the famous Ross Allen Reptile Institute are gone, the natural spring and its surrounding ecosystem have been beautifully preserved. Wild rhesus monkeys still live along the Silver River. Despite the legend, they are not leftovers from the Tarzan films: no Tarzan movie shot in the area featured rhesus macaques.
Visit the Tarzan Filming Locations
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours
See the same clear waters where Weissmuller filmed in 1939. Tours are 30 or 90 minutes.
Kayak the Silver River
Paddle the jungle-like Silver River from the park's launch. Watch for wild monkeys in the trees above.
Hiking Trails
Walk through the park's subtropical hammock forests. Multiple trails offer views of the spring and river.
The glass-bottom boats at Silver Springs have operated since 1878 — they were running decades before the Tarzan films arrived. Today's tours go out over the same springs where the 1939 film crew worked.
Other Movies & TV Shows Filmed at Silver Springs
Tarzan wasn't the only Hollywood production to discover Silver Springs. Productions filmed there include:
The Yearling
1946 • Drama
The Barefoot Mailman
1951 • Comedy
Creature from the Black Lagoon
1954 • Horror/Sci-Fi
Jupiter's Darling
1955 • Musical
Revenge of the Creature
1955 • Horror/Sci-Fi
Rebel Without a Cause
1955 • Drama
Sea Hunt (TV series)
1958-1961 • TV Adventure
Thunderball
1965 • Spy
Moonraker
1979 • Spy
Newt Perry also influenced Universal's decision to film “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and its sequels in Florida, at springs including Wakulla and Silver Springs.
How to Visit Silver Springs State Park
Park Information
- Address: 1425 NE 58th Ave, Ocala, FL 34470
- Hours: 8:00 AM – sundown, 365 days a year
- $Entrance Fee: $8 per vehicle (2–8 people), $5 single-occupant vehicle, $2 pedestrians and cyclists (boat tours extra)
- Glass-Bottom Boats: 30-minute tours $17 adults ($15 seniors 55+ and kids 3–12); 90-minute tours $35 adults
Tips for Your Visit
- • Best time to visit: Early morning for calm water and best visibility
- • Glass-bottom boat tip: Sit in the middle for the best viewing angle
- • Wild monkeys: Best spotted along the Silver River on kayak tours
- • Photography: Morning light creates stunning underwater views from the boats
- • Combine with: Visit the Ocala National Forest springs on the same day
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Tarzan movies were filmed at Silver Springs in Ocala?
The best-documented one is MGM's Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939), starring Johnny Weissmuller, which was filmed partly at Silver Springs in early 1939; the State Archives of Florida hold photos of the cast filming there. The State Archives also credit Silver Springs with six Tarzan films in all, but they do not list the other titles. Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941), often said to have been filmed here, was filmed at Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee.
Can you visit the Tarzan filming locations at Silver Springs today?
Yes. Silver Springs is now Silver Springs State Park, open 8 a.m. to sundown every day. Glass-bottom boat tours go out over the springs, and you can paddle the Silver River or walk the park's trails.
What other movies were filmed at Silver Springs, Florida?
Other productions filmed at Silver Springs include The Yearling (1946), The Barefoot Mailman (1951), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Jupiter's Darling (1955), Revenge of the Creature (1955), parts of Rebel Without a Cause (1955), the TV series Sea Hunt (1958-1961), and the James Bond films Thunderball (1965) and Moonraker (1979).
Where exactly in Silver Springs were the Tarzan movies filmed?
The archives place the 1939 filming at Silver Springs, the headspring area that is now part of Silver Springs State Park, and one archive photo shows Weissmuller with a baby elephant at Ross Allen's Reptile Institute during the shoot. The exact spots used for individual scenes are not recorded in the sources we checked.
Are the Silver River monkeys left over from the Tarzan movies?
No. That is a popular legend, but no Tarzan movie filmed in the area featured rhesus macaques. The monkeys were brought to the area in the 1930s as a tourist attraction, separate from the films.
Explore More in Ocala
Silver Springs State Park
Complete visitor guide to the park
Springs Near Ocala
All the natural springs in Marion County
Things to Do in Ocala
Complete activities and attractions guide
Ocala National Forest Guide
Explore Florida's oldest national forest
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours
Tour the waters where Tarzan was filmed
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